KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The University of Tennessee-Knoxville will honor former Vol quarterback Peyton Manning by establishing an academic scholarship in his name.
The four-year scholarship will cover the costs of tuition, room and board for a male or female student. The award will be granted to a first-year student on the basis of academic achievement, leadership and community service.
UT President Joe Johnson said the scholarship will be funded from gifts to the university garnered from Manning’s athletic awards, the UT Athletics Department’s corporate matching grants program, and other private gifts.
Manning’s four-year career at UT produced a number of awards that generated $165,000 in scholarship funds. Among the awards were the Burger King-Vincent dePaul Draddy Scholar Athlete of the Year, the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback, and the American Honda Scholar Athlete of the Year.
“Peyton Manning’s leadership standards in the classroom, on the football field and in the community will serve as an inspiration to future generations at the University of Tennessee,” Johnson said.
“It is fitting that Peyton — a stellar student as well as a great athlete — should have this prestigious scholarship named after him,” UT-Knoxville Chancellor Bill Snyder said.
The Peyton Manning Scholarship will be awarded each year, beginning this fall, to an incoming freshman who will participate in UT-Knoxville’s Honors Program. Manning said creation of the scholarship concludes a wonderful experience at UT.
“Of all the great things that have happened to me at UT, this may be about the best,” Manning said. “I am grateful that a scholarship bearing my name will be there years from now to help future students. I am also proud that my name will continue to be linked with the school that has meant so much to my life.”
UT Athletics Director Doug Dickey said the scholarship will ensure that UT students in the next century recognize the outstanding contributions of a remarkable student athlete.
“Peyton Manning personifies intercollegiate athletics at its best,” Dickey said. “He was an outstanding student, an outstanding leader, and one of the best quarterbacks ever to play the game.”
A special scholarship announcement is planned April 18 during the spring Orange and White intrasquad game, when Manning will be watching Vol football as a spectator for the first time since his enrollment. Proceeds from the game will go to the Peyton Manning Scholarship Fund.
Contributions to the fund should be payable to the University of Tennessee and mailed to the Manning Scholarship Fund, Office of Development, 1609 Melrose Ave., Knoxville, TN 37996.
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Contact: Jack Williams (423-974-4531)